Tollison named SEDA president, CEO

Tuesday

Apr 9, 2013 at 5:14 PM

Mary Carr Mayle

When the Savannah Economic Development Authority unanimously appointed Trip Tollison interim president and CEO six months ago, SEDA board chairman David Paddison said he was expecting "a very smooth transition."

Those words proved prophetic Tuesday as the board voted unanimously to remove the "interim" designation and make Tollison's appointment permanent.

"Having chaired the original SEDA leadership search in 2010, I am keenly aware of what our board and community are looking for in the SEDA president," Paddison said. "As I look back over our criteria and job description, it is overwhelmingly apparent that Trip Tollison is the right person for the job.

"Trip has earned the unanimous support of the board, the staff and our development partners, and we are fortunate that he has agreed to lead SEDA into the future."

Tollison, who called the appointment "one of the greatest moments of my life," thanked the SEDA staff for their support and encouragement.

"There is no way this could happen without them," he said. "They have taught me a lot in the last six months."

Tollison, former vice president and chief operating officer for the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and Visit Savannah, thanked his wife and children for their support and Paddison and the board for their confidence.

"Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank (Savannah Chamber president and SEDA board member) Bill Hubbard for being a great partner for the last 10 years.

"Bill's unqualified support during this transition has meant a lot to me."

Although he spent 10 years with the chamber before accepting the interim position, Tollison was no stranger to SEDA.

As the chamber's legislative affairs liaison, he played a critical role in helping SEDA with various economic development projects, including both phases of major Gulfstream expansions.

He negotiated a resolution between the state, county, Georgia Ports Authority and Caterpillar related to ad valorem taxes on Caterpillar goods-in-transit through GPA. That was the last issue to resolve before the company's announcement of a major new facility near Athens and substantial exports through the Port of Savannah.

He also worked with Georgia Ports staff, representing the business community's support of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.

"I'm absolutely convinced Trip is the right person at the right time," Hubbard said. "He has great judgment, valuable contacts and a strong support structure.

"He's very politically astute. I'm as confident now as I was six months ago that he is going to be a superstar in this business."

Board member Greg Parker was traveling and not able to make Tuesday's meeting, but he expressed complete confidence in the board's decision.

"I've watched Trip work in this interim position, and I've been very impressed," Parker said. "His background with the chamber and on the Hill serves him well. So much of economic development is about those critical connections.

"But he's also proven to be a very good executive and a natural leader."

SEDA board member Stephen Green said he has watched Tollison grow through the last decade or so.

"Trip is part of a new generation of leaders," Green said. "He will bring to SEDA a vision that is long overdue."

Mayor Edna Jackson said the city has been able to work closely with Tollison.

"His successes and those of SEDA and the World Trade Center are our successes as a community," she said. "He will keep us all on the same page."

Brynn Grant agreed.

"Tripp has spent his career building relationships," said Grant, SEDA's chief operating officer. "As a result, he possesses one of the most valuable qualities for economic development - he can pick up the phone and make something happen. Strategy is important but without that, it means nothing."

In addition to getting things done, Tollison genuinely cares about people, Grant added, something that serves him well in tough negotiations.

"He's a leader who can have difficult conversations without allowing communications to break down. It is a unique skill to keep things moving forward, even when there's a snag."